The Multi - Store Model Of Memory

Question 1

What is Atkinson and Shiffrin’s multi - store model?

Answer 1

A model of memory describing how information flows through the system

Question 2

What does Atkinson and Shiffrin’s multi - store model suggest memory is made of?

Answer 2

3 stores linked by processing

Question 3

When a stimulus from the environment is detected what will it pass into?

Answer 3

The sensory register

Question 4

What are the main two stores of the sensory register?

Answer 4

Iconic memory - visual information coded visually
Echoic memory - sound information coded acoustically

Question 5

How long does material in the sensory register last?

Answer 5

Only briefly - less than half a second

Question 6

Does the sensory register have a high capacity?

Answer 6

Yes

Question 7

How will information pass further into the system?

Answer 7

If you pay attention to it

Question 8

What is the next stage after the sensory register?

Answer 8

Short term memory

Question 9

What is the capacity store for short term memory?

Answer 9

Limited
7 + or - 2

Question 10

How is short term memory coded?

Answer 10

Acoustically

Question 11

Around how long does short term memory last?

Answer 11

30 seconds unless rehearsed

Question 12

What is maintenance rehearsal?

Answer 12

When we repeat material to ourselves over and over

Question 13

What will occur if we rehearse information for long enough?

Answer 13

It will pass into the long term memory store

Question 14

What is the next stage after the short term memory store?

Answer 14

Long term memory

Question 15

What is the long term memory store?

Answer 15

Permanent memory store for information that has been rehearsed for a prolonged amount of time

Question 16

What is the capacity of the long term memory store?

Answer 16

Potentially unlimited

Question 17

If we want to recall information stored in the LTM what happens?

Answer 17

retrieval
information from LTM has to be transferred back to STM

Question 18

evaluation: case studies as research support

Answer 18

• studies support the idea of distinct LTM and STM
• KF - STM was impaired following a motorcycle accident, but his LTM remained intact
• supports the idea that LTM and STM are different things

Question 19

evaluation point: gives us a good understanding of the structure and process of the STM.

Answer 19

• allows researchers to expand on this model.

Question 20

evaluation point: oversimplified

Answer 20

• when it suggests both STM and LTM each operate in a single, uniform fashion. We know this isn’t the case.
• both short-term and long-term memory are more complicated that previously thought. For example, the Working Model of Memory proposed by Baddeley and Hitch showed that short term memory is more than just one simple store and comprises different components (e.g. central executive, Visuospatial etc.).
• different types of LTM have been identified, namely episodic (memories of events), procedural (knowledge of how to do things) and semantic (general knowledge).

Question 21

evaluation point: Rehearsal is considered a too simple explanation to account for the transfer of information from STM to LTM.

Answer 21

• the model ignores factors such as motivation, effect and strategy (e.g. mnemonics) which underpin learning.